Twang Twang Shock-a-boom

As on the one magical day every 100 years when the Scottish town of Brigadoon reappears, a transformation takes place on the fifth Monday of each five-Monday month. That’s when a group of roots musicians turns its weekly Rural Grit Happy Hour — a gathering of like-minded players armed with acoustic instruments — into the Electric Freakout. “Normally, they play an acoustic show and share a condenser mic, and all the musicians are grouped around it. During Electric Freakout, their instruments are amplified,” explains Sheri Parr, owner of the Brick (1727 McGee, 816-421-1634), where Rural Grit happens tonight and every Monday at 6 p.m. Founded by Ike Sheldon of the Wilders and organized by Kim Stanton and musician Mark Smeltzer, the Happy Hour has included such performers as Amy Farrand, Joe Roberts, and members of the Afterparty and the Wilders. The cover is $3. For more information, see myspace.com/ruralgritrecords

Mon., Dec. 29, 2008